Chelsea told staggering price tag for winger – Newcastle avoid second transfer ‘hijack’

Chelsea have been informed they must offer more than £55 million to land Borussia Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi during the current transfer window. The London club has already made significant moves in the market, notably securing the services of Jamie Gittens from Dortmund for an initial £48.5 million.

Gittens, who emerged from Manchester City’s academy, featured for Dortmund at the Club World Cup before finalizing his transfer to Stamford Bridge, where he joined a growing roster of youthful talent.

Gittens’ arrival was quickly followed by the signing of Joao Pedro from Brighton, a player Newcastle United had keenly pursued but who ultimately chose Chelsea.

The recruitment spree under Enzo Maresca appears far from over, with the club maintaining its aggressive approach to revamping the forward line. Adeyemi, now 23, has surfaced as one of the top targets in their ongoing pursuit of attacking options.

Previously linked with a move to Newcastle as a contingency plan in case the Magpies failed to secure Anthony Elanga, Adeyemi became less of a priority for the Tyneside club after they completed a deal for the Swedish winger.

Newcastle reached a breakthrough in negotiations with Nottingham Forest earlier this week, agreeing to an initial £52 million fee, with an additional £3 million in potential add-ons, to bring Elanga to St. James’ Park.

His signing ranks among the most expensive in Newcastle’s history and reflects the current market value of highly rated young forwards.

The demand for forward players this summer has resulted in consistently high fees across the Premier League.

Adeyemi’s valuation by Dortmund reportedly stands at €65 million, or just over £55 million, putting him in the same bracket as other recent deals.

Pedro’s switch to Chelsea, Tottenham’s pursuits of Morgan Gibbs-White and Mohammed Kudus—all within a similar financial range—underline the trend and validate Dortmund’s position.

Although Dortmund remains hesitant to part ways with Adeyemi following Gittens’ departure, the club’s business model is built on identifying, developing, and eventually selling talent when the right offer arises.

The German side has demonstrated a consistent willingness to cash in on their brightest stars provided the price aligns with their internal valuation.

Their healthy working relationship with Chelsea could facilitate discussions, especially after the two clubs navigated several obstacles to finalize Gittens’ move.

Sebastian Kehl, Dortmund’s sporting director, alluded to the nature of this relationship when reflecting on Chelsea’s initial attempt to sign Gittens earlier in the summer.

He acknowledged that discussions with the Premier League side were constructive, even though the two clubs initially disagreed on the player’s value. While Chelsea’s first offer was turned down, the process was conducted with mutual respect, and both sides maintained open lines of communication.

Kehl’s remarks made it clear that although Dortmund initially decided to retain Gittens, they appreciated Chelsea’s approach. The positive tone between the clubs may well set the stage for renewed negotiations if Chelsea makes a formal push for Adeyemi.

Dortmund’s history of high-profile sales—combined with Chelsea’s aggressive transfer policy—suggests that a deal remains very much on the table.

With Chelsea continuing to overhaul their squad and target players who align with Maresca’s vision, Adeyemi represents a compelling blend of pace, versatility, and potential.

Having already proven himself in the Bundesliga and in European competition, he fits the profile of Chelsea’s recent signings—young, high-ceiling talents who can be developed into long-term assets.

If the Blues are prepared to meet Dortmund’s valuation, a transfer could move swiftly. The next few weeks may well determine whether Adeyemi becomes the next marquee addition in Chelsea’s summer rebuild.